The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-10-13
HOME AGAIN."
GRAND SOCIAL GATHERING OF
NORTH CAROLINA BORN
CITIZENS
To take Place at the State Fair.

EdentOn Fisherman and Farmer.
The State Fair reunion of non-resi-
dent North Carolinians promises to be
most enjoyable feature. Many, we
understand, prominent residents of
other States who have been invited
will be present, will gather once again
around the hearth, so to speak, of their
native home and mingle again their
familiar voices in the sweet converse
respecting the familiar things and in
cidents OF the past which have swelled
history into a mighty book crowded
with noble deeds, grand achievements,
and brilliant evidences Of an universal
onward. 1t is pleasant when, at stated
times, the scattered family, once happy
in supposed perpetual union, can be
brought to mingle again around the
fireside of their old home, to live over,
for while, the long past which has
been lost save only to memory in
whose exercise facts and faces as well
as occasions are thrown out upon the
surface feast to the eye of mind and
a joy to the soul filled with love of
home and a just appreciation of the
friends OF other days.
In this reunion there will be much
to recall which will doubtless awake
reflections sad beyond description.
Many faces will be missed. The
names of many will be mentioned who
now sleep in soldier graves awaiting
the final transfer when the battalions Of
earth's mighty forces will pitch their
tents upon Eden's fields clothed in the
immortal armament of heaven. Some
will be absent whose deeds of love and
wisdom, whose mighty speech and
fearless convictions have made their
names conspicuous in the incompara-
bic catalogue of true greatness. Some
will be missed to whose bright example
Of christian heroism and self-sacrifce
the onward of the Church-that essen
tial in civilization, is, in great measure,
humanity speaking, due. Some will be
mlssed-statesmen, whose spotless
character and unrivalled ability gave
luster to the States reputation and
whose arduous efforts paved the way
for the splendid progress which their
descendants have made in growth and
government. But while all those will
be absent causing a feeling of sadness
there will be occasions for contempla-
ton as grand and stirring as our ret
respect has been sad and shadowy.
TO her absent children our grand old
Mother can point innumerable evil
dences showing that the seed of con-
tinuing prosperity, SO faithfully sown
in the past by other hands, have ger
minated, sprung up and are now ripe
for harvest unending. Where the
song of the plow-5oy and the sound
of the woodman was once only heard,
the music Of spindles, the roar of ma
chinery and the tread of the iron
horse, all blending in industrial har-
mony, impregnate the air with the
music of march grand, imposing and
beautiful, making the people rejoice
and filling the lap of plenty even unto
perfect fulness. At almost every cross
road, in the place of the cider mill
and dram shop, there stands school
house, we'll equipped and furnished.
At every precinct the church of God
has erected an edihce for prayer and
praise, and where the poor and de-
fenseless orphans once were neglected,
now, in the plenitude of a charity
almost begotten, there stand asylums
sustained and governed by prosper
Gus people bent on progress and uni
versal good. In this reunion there
may be some who, impressed with the
grandeur of the progress made by
their State, shall determine to return
to their old home. To such all bid
welcome.